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Vision loss linked to bariatric surgery?!?



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Okay, let me preface this with the fact that I've been to my fair share of specialists since April 6 to explain my sudden loss of vision. All kinds of tests: MRI, CT scan, vision field test, angiogram, eye scan, and a plain old vision test.

One of the specialist's wife is some sort of rehabilitation doctor. They were apparently talking about my case at home. This rehabilitation doctor said that she is seeing more and more bariatric patients with vision issues. Has anyone heard of that??

A Google search showed a few articles about vision loss after surgery is rare, but has happened, And it's irreversible.

I guess I'm lucky that I've only lost my peripheral vision and will need corrective lenses... as long as it doesn't get worse. But, since the one doctor made a correlation to vision loss and bariatric surgery, I was wondering if anyone else experienced it?

~Jenn

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I have experienced some vision loss since my December 2012 sleeve surgery. My eye doctor said it's due to my weight loss. Rapid weight loss causes the shape of the eye to change, resulting in a change of vision.

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I only had vision loss from the Morphine the first week after surgery.

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I have noticed I am squinting more?

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My vision has been blurry the past couple weeks but idk if it has anything to do with the surgery. Interesting

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I had vision change after surgery, but it was from blood sugar dropping so quickly. Blood sugar leveled out and so did vision. I did need new glasses, but that was something that was like way overdue anyway.

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I read in a article that the vision got better. In fact this person said,she got rid of her glasses and her vision was perfect after years of wearing glasses.The person said she had learned there were other people who had the same experience after having

WLS. I only remember reading this, because I have an eye disease, and hope this happens to me. I have notice I can see a bit better. Will see its been only a week and a few days since surgery.

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I am noticing blurred vision also. But I am older and have cataracts and that could be the reason. Interested to know if there is any scientific research for this.

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I have had blurred vision too

Sent from my iPhone using VST

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You need to notify your doctor. I was having vision problems and had blood work reveal that both my Vitamin A & D were low Even though I faithfully take all off my supplements. It was an easy fix. Had my supplement levels boosted and now my eyes are back to my pre surgery vision. Good luck!

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It can also be a side effect of dehydration.

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Blood work is normal. I've seen numerous doctors: neurologist, ophthalmologist, neuro opthalmologist, and a retina specialist. All have been baffled with the root cause. I'm definitely not dehydrated as I've been there done that got the "3 ER visits" t-shirt from the dehydration. So, I can easily identify dehydration.

Though, I hadn't heard about the rapid weight loss theory... I'll ask them about that when they call me back this week.

All I can do is trust in the doctors and continue living my life. :)

~Jenn

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I posted about this not too long ago! I had my yearly eye exam in December and had my surgery in January. Since then my vision has gone from -5.50 (was stable there for 3 years) to -6.75 in the little time between now and January. I really hope it stops declining since I am so blind!

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Haven't noticed any changes, but I'm still under a year out. In fact, I lost my left eye contacts which are worse than my right and substituted my lower rx right ones for a month and could see just find with the lower strength.

Let us know if you find out anything more about it.

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Wow this worries me guess ill be having a chat with my doc on Wednesday ugh Im blind enough already wear glasses would not like to be worse smh :(

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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